R. v. Crocker (D.D.), (2015) 361 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 118 (NLPC)

• Judge: Gorman, P.C.J.
• Court: Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court (Canada)
• Case Date: January 19, 2015
• Jurisdiction: Newfoundland and Labrador
• Citations: (2015), 361 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 118 (NLPC);2015 NLPC 1314

R. v. Crocker (D.D.) (2015), 361 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 118 (NLPC);

    1122 A.P.R. 118

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2015] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. TBEd. JA.015

Her Majesty the Queen v. David Dennis Crocker

(2015 NLPC 1314A00754)

Indexed As: R. v. Crocker (D.D.)

Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court

Gorman, P.C.J.

January 20, 2015.

Summary:

While intoxicated, the accused and his spouse engaged in an argument. The accused contacted police, complaining that his spouse had assaulted him. The accused was charged with assault and uttering threats to kill his spouse. He raised the defence of self-defence under s. 34 of the Criminal Code.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court acquitted the accused.

Criminal Law - Topic 239

General principles - Statutory defences or exceptions - Self-defence (incl. preventing assault) - [See Criminal Law - Topic 1420 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 1413

Offences against person and reputation - Assaults - Simple assault - What constitutes - [See Criminal Law - Topic 1420 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 1420

Offences against person and reputation - Assaults - Defence - Self defence - While intoxicated, the accused and his spouse engaged in an argument - The accused contacted police, complaining that his spouse had assaulted him - The accused was charged with assault and uttering threats to kill his spouse - He raised the defence of self-defence under s. 34 of the Criminal Code - The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court acquitted the accused - The accused and his spouse presented different versions of what had happened during the incident - As both had been intoxicated, judicial caution was required in relying on their descriptions - Both had suffered injuries - A witness's description of the spouse being the aggressor and attempting to scratch the accused's face was consistent with the accused's description - The photographs did not contradict the accused's description - The evidence overall was not sufficient to meet the standard for either of the charges - While the court was satisfied that the accused had pushed his spouse (applying force without consent), the Crown had failed to establish that self-defence did not apply.

Criminal Law - Topic 1563

Offences against person and reputation - Threats - Threat to kill - [See Criminal Law - Topic 1420 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Lifchus (W.), [1997] 3 S.C.R. 320; 216 N.R. 215; 118 Man.R.(2d) 218; 149 W.A.C. 218, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Starr (R.D.), [2000] 2 S.C.R. 144; 258 N.R. 250; 148 Man.R.(2d) 161; 224 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. J.M.H. (2011), 421 N.R. 76; 283 O.A.C. 379; 2011 SCC 45, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. D.W., [1991] 1 S.C.R. 742; 122 N.R. 277; 46 O.A.C. 352, refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Van (D.), [2009] 1 S.C.R. 716; 388 N.R. 200; 251 O.A.C. 295; 65 C.R.(6th) 193, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. W.E.M., [[2015] A.R. Uned. 6; 2015 ABCA 7, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Dawydiuk (M.N.) (2010), 285 B.C.A.C. 190; 482 W.A.C. 190; 253 C.C.C.(3d) 493 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. Palombi (K.) (2007), 225 O.A.C. 264; 222 C.C.C.(3d) 528 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. Ewanchuk (S.B.) (1999), 235 N.R. 323; 232 A.R. 1; 195 W.A.C. 1; 131 C.C.C.(3d) 481 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. George, [1960] S.C.R. 871, refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Bartlett (1989), 79 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 143; 246 A.P.R. 143 (Nfld. T.D.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Clemente (V.F.), [1994] 2 S.C.R. 758; 168 N.R. 310; 95 Man.R.(2d) 161; 70 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. McRae (S.), [2013] 3 S.C.R. 931; 451 N.R. 375, refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. Deluney (R.A.) (2014), 355 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 192; 1106 A.P.R. 192 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. Cinous (J.), [2002] 2 S.C.R. 3; 285 N.R. 1; 162 C.C.C.(3d) 129, refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Ryan (W.J.) (2011), 304 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 124; 944 A.P.R. 124; 2011 NLCA 9, refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Harris (R.), 2014 ONCJ 401, refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. McKay (A.J.) (2009), 240 Man.R.(2d) 74; 456 W.A.C. 74; 246 C.C.C.(3d) 24 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Szczerbaniwicz (G.), [2010] 1 S.C.R. 455; 401 N.R. 47, appld. [para. 36].

R. v. Smith (T.A.) (2014), 354 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 65; 1102 A.P.R. 65 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 40, footnote 1].

R. v. Cross (W.), [2015] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. Uned. 1; 2015 CanLII 235 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 40, footnote 1].

R. v. M.C. (2014), 318 O.A.C. 354 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 41].

Counsel:

A. Dwyer, for Her Majesty the Queen;

R. Matthews, Q.C., for Mr. Crocker.

This case was heard at Corner Brook, N.L., on January 19, 2015, by Gorman, P.C.J., of the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court, who delivered the following judgment on January 20, 2015.